The Lord is My Shepherd I Have Everything I Need (Psa 23:1-6)
Song: "You are More Than Enough"
You are my supply
G/B C
My breath of life
Am7 D2/F#
Still more awesome than I know
G C D
You are my reward
G/B C
Worth living for
Am7 D2/F#
Still more awesome than I know
CHORUS:
G C D C
All of You is more than enough for
G C D C G
All of me for every thirst and every need
C D C G
You satisfy me with Your love
C D C G C D C G
And all I have in You is more than enough
VERSE 2:
You’re my sacrifice
Of greatest price
Still more awesome than I know
You’re my coming King
You are everything
Still more awesome than I know
BRIDGE:
G C D
More than all I want
C G/B C
More than all I need
D C
You are more than enough for me
G C D
More than all I know
C G/B C
More than all I can see
D
You are more than enough
©2002 worshiptogether.com Songs / sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Whenever we wonder if it is possible to cope with life’s problems we only have to look to the Lord, our Shepherd. Too many needy people look to themselves, the world or to others when they are afraid, distressed or dissatisfied, besides the Shepherd. David knew that a Shepherd must provide the feeding, leading and protecting needs for creatures that are helpless otherwise.
Illustration: Dr. Andrew Bonar told me how, in the Highlands of Scotland, a sheep would often wander off into the rocks and get into places that they couldn’t get out of. The grass on these mountains is very sweet and the sheep like it, and they will jump down ten or twelve feet, and then they can’t jump back again, and the shepherd hears them bleating in distress. They may be there for days, until they have eaten all the grass. The shepherd will wait until they are so faint they cannot stand, and then they will put a rope around him, and he will go over and pull that sheep up out of the jaws of death. "Why don’t they go down there when the sheep first gets there?" I asked. "Ah!" He said, "they are so very foolish they would dash right over the precipice and be killed if they did!" And that is the way with men; they won’t go back to God till they have no friends and have lost everything. If you are a wanderer I tell you that the Good Shepherd will bring you back the moment you have given up trying to save yourself and are willing to let Him save you His own way.
Moody’s Anecdotes, pp. 70-71.
When we are really willing to be led by the Shepherd we do not always have to know where we are going or whether there will be enough provisions for our needs. The Shepherd knows the way through the wilderness, the dark valleys and assures us that our cup will overflow. Hudson Taylor, the famous founder of the China Inland Mission, read that verse, "My cup overflows" and took comfort that God would supply all that his 5000 missionaries needed during times of famine in China and He never let them down.
Let us examine the reasons why we should place greater trust, love and obedience in the Lord, our Shepherd.
Sheep, by nature, are foolish and vulnerable who easily go astray. Without a shepherd they scatter and become entrapped by various worldly entanglements, enticements and enemies.
Illustration: Missionary statesman Hudson Taylor had complete trust in God’s faithfulness. In his journal he wrote:
Our heavenly Father is a very experienced One. He knows very well that His children wake up with a good appetite every morning... He sustained 3 million Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years. We do not expect He will send 3 million missionaries to China; but if He did, He would have ample means to sustain them all... Depend on it, God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.
Our Daily Bread, May 16, 1992.
1. THE GOOD SHEPHERD PROVIDES - The Good Shepherd is the all sufficient one whose resources are inexhaustible. "O fear the Lord, you His saints. For to those who fear Him there is no want. The young lions lack and suffer hunger but they who seek the Lord will not lack one good thing." (Psa 34:8,9)
The Lord provides for us emotionally, mentally, physically, socially, morally, financially and spiritually. Too many people are trying to satisfy their wants with things that are injurious to them spiritually, emotionally, morally and physically. The Shepherd gives quiet contentment to the minds and hearts of those sheep who are submitted in a quiet trust and obedience. Let us cast all of our cares on Him for is able to care for every need.
Application: Praise God that He is more than enough for our every need. He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with what is good. (Psa 103)He gives us more than enough provisions, power and protection to get us through the dark valleys of life. He gives us more than enough perspective to understand what we need to know to accomplish His will. He gives us more than enough wisdom, strength and ability to be, do and say what pleases Him and bears fruit in every good work. HE, the Good Shepherd, is more than enough for whatever need, problem or challenge we will face!
Illustration: The Shepherd knows to provide the greatest abundance is nothing more than a dry desert for the wicked person who relishes only in that which pleases his senses. Godly people feed on the green pastures of the Shepherd as they develop an appetite for what is wholesome.
Application: Never grow anxious, angry or upset that there will not be adequacy for whatever you need as the Good Shepherd always provides what we need just in time.
2. THE GOOD SHEPHERD GIVES CONTENTMENT - Believers who exhibit equanimity (calm composure during needy times) are those who rest contentedly under the care of the good Shepherd. We can praise, thank and rejoice in the comprehensive care of the Shepherd. Paul wrote, "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance I am in. I know how to get along with humble means and with plenty. I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:12,13)
Contented sheep are satisfied and happy with what they have. They do not envy what other sheep have in another pasture. Instead of complaining about what we do not have let us be thankful for what the Good Shepherd provides.
3. THE GOOD SHEPHERD IS THE LOVING JESUS - Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd and know my sheep and am known of mine." (John 10:14) We can praise God that we have a saving-intimate relationship with Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus comforts us so that we can comfort others who are going through difficult times. We can be confident in Jesus as the one who laid down His life for the sheep. He gave everything so that we might have eternal life, access to the truth and a way to know the will of God. (John 14:6) Jesus is our model, message and mentor.
Jesus knows us intimately and we are allowed to know Him as the one who has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness. Peter wrote, "Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to you His precious and magnificent promises in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust." (2 Pet. 1:,3,4)
We can praise God that Jesus, the Lord, gives us an irrevocable grant that assures us of everything that we need for all aspects of youth, middle age and senior years. He even energizes us with the spiritual prowess to grow in all aspects into Christ so that we are not lacking in anything. Gain a greater intimate experiential knowledge of Jesus as you take His yoke upon you for His yoke is easy and His burdens are light and you will find rest for your souls. (Matt 11:28-30)
4. THE GOOD SHEPHERD GUIDES - The good shepherd knows where to direct the sheep so that they can be best nourished. He makes us to lie down in green pastures and leads us beside the quiet waters and restores our souls. The Lord knows the best places where we can receive spiritual, emotional, physical and mental nourishment. No wonder, Solomon, the son of the author of Psalm 23, David, wrote, "Trust in the LORD, with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him (As the Lord of your life) and He will direct your paths." (Prov. 3:5,6) Let us ask the Lord to show us what He wants us to think, say and do continuously so that we are not operating under our own intuitive perceptions.
5. THE GOOD SHEPHERD PROTECTS - Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, kill and destroy, but I came that you might have life and have it abundantly, with all fullness, and completeness." (John 10:10) Without submission to the protecting control of the Shepherd, sheep set themselves to be destroyed by evil. Peter wrote, "Be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary the devil, prowls around you like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (I Pet 5:8) We need to be take up the Shepherd’s full armor so that we can stand in the evil day having girded our loins with the Shepherd, truth, salvation, sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, His shield of faith, and His gospel of peace. (Eph. 6:10-18) Too many people try to navigate through life without utilizing all of the provisions of the Shepherd comprehensive protections. Whenever people feel vulnerable let them remember the song,
Song: "In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. WE have the victory. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. Satan will have to flee."
6. THE GOOD SHEPHERD ANOINTS - We can praise, rest and rejoice in the fact that the shepherd anoints us with the oil of healing, dignity and empowerment. When the shepherd anointed the sheep he provided not only a balm for their wounds, but also a salve that would keep harmful insects and bacteria away. One who is anointed by the Lord have a bold assurance of His purpose, approval and refreshment. Ask the Lord to anoint you with a freshing anointing as you go forward to serve Him with gladness. He will fill you with a greater measure of wholeness, preventative medicine and enablement than you have ever experienced before.
7. THE GOOD SHEPHERD GIVES ONLY WHAT IS GOOD - Occasionally sheep try to cross through fences and get things that are not good for them. The good shepherd knows exactly what we need and in the right amounts and in the right times. God is truly good and He is good all the time. Surely, His goodness and mercy will follow us all the moments of our lives so we do not have to get stressed out when things do not appear to be working out. Even when our enemies surround us He prepares a table of bounty for us so that everyone can know our help is from the Lord who made heaven and earth. Therefore, we do not have to fear when circumstances make it appear that things are crashing all around us. Even during the worst of times, the good shepherd can provide us with the best. Paul wrote, "Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and possessing all things." (2 Cor. 4:4-9)
Illustration: What God Has Promised
God has not promised skies always blue,
Flower strewn pathways all our lives through,
God has not promised sun without rain,
Joy with sorrow, peace without pain,
But God has promised strength for the day,
Rest for the laborer,
Light on the way,
Grace for the trial,
Help from above,
Unfailing sympathy,
Undying love.
You may not have what you want now, but he will give you what you need in due time and in the right amount and add no sorrow to you.
ILlustration:
In its January 25, l988 issue, TIME provided an insight on selfishness and its corollary, sharing. Speaking about the introduction of the videocassette recorder, the article said, "The company had made a crucial mistake. While at first Sony kept its Beta technology mostly to itself, JVC, the Japanese inventor of the VHS (format), shared its secret with a a raft of other firms. As a result, the market was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the VHS machines being produced."
This drastically undercut Sony’s market share. The first year, Sony lost 40 percent of the market, and by 1987 it controlled only 10 percent. So now Sony has jumped on the VHS bandwagon. While it still continues to make Beta-format VCRs, Sony’s switch to VHS, according to TIME, will likely send Beta machines to "the consumer-electronics graveyard." Even in a cut-throat business, sharing has its rewards.
Phillip Gunter.
